Hot Happenings This Weekend: MotifTV Oct 24 – 27

Spooky Happenings: Halloween Attractions

Terrifying walk-throughs, haunted hay rides, ghosts and family fun in Rhode Island and Southern New England this Halloween season

A-Mazing Halloween Party, Escobar’s Farm, 255 Middle Rd, Portsmouth. Come in costume and try to find your way through the huge corn maze. Oct 26 11am – 4pm escobarshighlandfarm.com

Boo at the Zoo, Buttonwood Park Zoo, 425 Hawthorne St, New Bedford. A hay maze, wagon rides, arts and crafts, and a “friendly haunted house.” Fri – Sun, Oct 11 – 27; 6 – 9pm bpzoo.org

Charlie the Butler Ghost Party, Gov Sprague Mansion, 1351 Cranston St, Cranston. Mentalist Rory Raven, costumes encouraged. Oct 25, 7pm Icranstonhistoricalsociety.org

In Factory of Terror, 33 Pearl St, Fall River. Bloodworth, 4D Blackout, and Phobia Mayhem; you may leave crying. Thurs – Sun, 6:30 – 10pm factoryofterror.com

Field of Screams, Big John Leyden’s, 179 Plain Meeting House Rd, West Greenwich. The Haunted Insane Asylum, Dead River Haunted Hayride, Cirque du Souls 4D haunted maze. Sun 6:30 – 9pm, Fri & Sat 6:30 – 10pm hauntedhayride.net

Fortress of Nightmares, Fort Adams State Park, 90 Fort Adams Drive, Newport. Tunnels of Terror, Apocalypse Airsoft and a Fortress Ghost Hunt. Fri – Sat. Oct 11 – 27, 7 – 10pm fortressofnightmares.com

Fright Fest, Six Flags, Agawam, Mass. 27 frights around the park from haunted mazes to spooky shows. Plus your favorite thrill rides with a halloween twist. Fri 6 – 10pm, Sat 12 – 10pm, Sun 12 – 9pm frightfest.sixflags.com

The Haunted Graveyard, Lake Compounce, 186 Enterprise Drive, Bristol, Conn. Ride the amusement park’s many thrill rides and head over to the graveyard maze for spooks well worth the drive. Fri – Sun, 5 – 11pm lakecompounce.com

Haunted Hill, Diamond Hill Park, 4092 Diamond Hill Rd, Cumberland. Don’t get lost on this wooded trail– you might never come back. Fri – Sat 7 – 10pm hauntedhill.net

Haunted Labyrinth, CYO Center, 804 Dyer Ave, Cranston. The longest running haunted house walkthrough in New England. Fri – Sun 7-10pm hauntedlabyrinth.com

Haunted Rail Yard, Old Colony and River Railroad Museum, 2 Water St, Fall River. Fri – Sat, 6 – 10pm, Sun 6 – 9pm facebook.com/HauntedRailYardFundraiser

Haunted Tunnel, Slater Park, 401 Newport Ave, Pawtucket. A 200ft concrete tunnel is host to nine rooms along with an industrial corn maze, pumpkin patch and more. Fri – Sat 6:30 – 9pm facebook.com/hauntedtunnelri

The Haunts of Little Rest Hill, The Old Washington County Jail, 2636 Kingstown Rd, Kingstown. Hear the darker side of history on this 75 minute walking tour. Thurs – Fri, 8:30pm; Sat, 7:30 & 9:30 pm washingtoncountyhistory.com

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Ave, Providence. This year’s theme, “Pumpkinville USA,” includes several hundred illuminated pumpkins. Nightly, 6 – 11pm rwpzoo.org

Providence Ghost Tours, East Side of Prov, Tours leave from Prospect Park, 60 Congdon St, Providence.

Scary Acres, Confreda Farms, 2150 Scituate Ave, Cranston. Haunted Hayride and Haunted Corn Maze. Fri – Sun dusk – 10pm scaryacresri.com

Sights and Frights, Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic. A haunted schooner, “The Curse of the Demeter,” and halloween fun for kids too. Oct 19, 25, 26; 6 – 9:30 pm mysticseaport.org

Slater Mill Ghost Tours, 67 Roosevelt Ave, Pawtucket. Visit Slater Mill for a paranormal investigation through three historic buildings. Fridays 8pm; Sat, Oct 19 – 25 8pm slatermill.org

Terror in Rhode Island, Mulligan’s Island, 1000 New London Ave, Cranston. Festival of Fear, a 3-D adventure, Devils Playground, and Darkness Falls, a house of darkness. Fri & Sat 6 – 11pm, Thurs and Sun 6 – 10pm terrorinrhodeisland.com

Trails to Terror, Highland Farm, 4235 Tower Hill Rd, Wakefield. Delemorte’s Haunted Hayride and the Forest of Fear. Fri – Sun 6:30 – 10pm trailstoterror.com Stand Aside Knave! The Show Must Go On!

Government shutdown, government shmutdown

Fie! Fie I say to the government. A plague on both your houses!

For the past two weeks, we have run into snags in our lives since the U.S. Government shut down. Some people even lost jobs. Public outrage has grown as we see more and more poignant pictures of elderly vets banned from the War Memorial, little children stopped at the gate to the zoo, and average families kept from enjoying the beauty and splendor of our national parks. But another group is being shut out by the government: Artists!

As if it isn’t tough enough to be a humble, non-profit performing group with limited resources, the government shut-down has forced a scramble for performing space. Months ago, Bob Colonna’s Rhode Island Shakespeare Theatre booked time at the Roger Williams Memorial Park in downtown Providence, a lovely venue. This is the outdoor space the group has used before. Shortly before their opening date in October, Colonna was informed that the park would be closed and unavailable to the troupe. However, there’s no stopping the highly talented mere mortals of Director Bob Colonna’s Rhode Island Shakespeare Theatre, nor the ghosts in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Shakespeare serves us well, even centuries later. And how goes our own government? Not so much.

The troupe is proceeding with performances close to the original location, at Memorial Park in downtown Providence, located at the corner of South Main and College Streets. Yes, it is still outdoors. “Oh sure,” says Colonna. “You may have to bundle up, but it’ll be fun. Among other things, the outdoor venue allows us to use fire in certain scenes, which is pretty exciting. And don’t forget, it’s free! If you bring along something to warm the blood, you should be perfectly comfortable.” Also bring something to sit on – chair or blanket.

Colonna is known for cleverly modernizing Shakespeare settings, making the presentation fresh. This time, his inventive adaptation has transformed Macbeth into a mob story, taking place in the present time. “Audiences will hear Shakespeare’s famous chilling and heart-wrenching words,” says Colonna, “but they will see black leather, fancy furs, AK-47s and baseball bats.” This transformation brings an extra exciting vibe to the production.

Three free-spirited actresses portray the wicked witches stirring up the dark arts. Meryn Flynn, Cherylee Dumas and Meg Taylor-Roth gleefully screech and writhe through their chants. As a special twist in this production, the role of the head witch/goddess, Hecate, is played by a variety of actresses in different performances. This includes Amy Anderson, Mary Paolino and Karyn Valcourt.

Dan White and Leann Heath deliciously play the Macbeths, with their own style of contemporary mob class. They are the ultimate devoted married couple, intensely scary and prone to violence. Christopher Ferreira is a blustery presence as Macduff, the ever patriotic adversary of Macbeth. Geoff White, as the good-hearted Banquo, brings a special quality to the production as a gentler soul.

The multi-talented director, Bob Colonna, also doubles as old King Duncan, and the humorously inebriated Porter. Rosanna Cavanaugh plays Macduff’s doomed wife, CT Larsen and Ben Royer play the royal brothers, Malcolm and Donalbain. David Kane is Macbeth’s loyal servant, Seyton, and two younger cast members are Kiara Wallace as a feisty but unfortunate Macduff daughter, and Brandon Garvey is the brave and resourceful Fleance.

So go on down and enjoy the show, celebrate the season, and don’t let the government sequester your enjoyment of the arts. Macbeth will continue through October 27, Thursday through Sunday nights at 7 pm at Memorial Park, Providence. Admission is free. Check out TRIST on Facebook.

MoTiv Oct 9 – 15

Alt-Nation: An Interview About BoobStock and Deer Tick’s Latest

Internet radio superstation sensation 990WBOB is getting ready to roll out the pink carpet for their 5th annual BoobStock to raise money for those afflicted with breast cancer. To find out what to expect, I posed some questions to 990WBOB General Manager, Adam Palazio, who promises that this year will be “the craziest yet!” Of course with any great event that WBOB does, there’s bound to be a few surprises, as each BoobStock outdoes the one before. The best of Local Rock this October

MC: So people have an idea how much has BoobStock grown, how much money have you raised since the first show five years ago?

AP: Each year we have been able to donate to multiple charities thanks to the money raised at BoobStock, specifically focusing our contributions on the recovery of those women who have suffered from breast cancer. I am proud to say that over the years we’ve raised over $5,000 to help the fight.

MC: Do you have any particular acts that you are extra stoked to see at this year’s BoobStock?

AP: Truly I’m stoked for all the acts. This is a solid lineup. We are talking about one of the hottest bands going in Torn Shorts. The Stilts are a great complement in style with them. Then we’ll kick it up a notch with the much awaited return of SexCoffee, equipped with new drummer, the original maniac Nick “The Pipe” Iddon. Speaking of crazy people, no one has worked harder in this business than Satellites Fall. Their unique style has put them on big stages all over the east coast. Lastly, let’s not forget about the lovely and talented Kait Clavette playing an acoustic set.

MC: What are some of your favorite performances from BoobStocks past?

AP: We’ve made a ton of memories in the last five years with so many great acts and moments. If you had to narrow it down, certainly Kanerko last year in their final performance would be one. They left everything they had on that stage – truly unbelievable. BoobStock III aka 2011 was by far the most memorable all the way around. We truly kicked it up a notch with our introduction of the pink carpet and infamous BoobStock wall. Then again, BoobStock NYC last year was in its own category. To see a NY crowd and a pack of some 50-plus Providence friends in attendance was touching. On that particular night, The Can’t Nots killed it.

MC: How many different programs are on 990WBOB now? What’s your listenership?

AP: 990WBOB offers a wide variety of programming. Of course our music department is thriving. Rob Duguay, Chad Hoyle, Bob Giusti and Joe Ferro are all well groomed in the music scene. Each host offers our listeners a plethora of underground bands and tracks. We also offer a solid sports department featuring such personalities as CES manager Michael Parente, three time Super Bowl Champ Patrick Pass, and WBOB superstar Kevin Aherne. Our talk department is anchored by the Wild Side David Clyde and his everyman shot from the hip point of view. Todd Giroux is Main Street’s voice on the air. All and all we offer some 14 plus shows with another two or three in development, including a new show titled Raw Sex. Use your imagination. We currently are in over 200,000 homes, businesses and mobile devices nationwide including over 80,000 local RI listeners.

9 90WBOB will once again roll out the pink carpet to present BoobStock V on October 26 at Dusk in Providence. This year’s BoobStock will be hosted by Terry Shea and Kim Kalunian and features performances by Torn Shorts, The Stilts, SexCoffee, Kait Clavette, and some of the best local comedians to boot!

Deer Tick –Negativity (Partisan Records)

When we last checked in with the boys from Deer Tick, they were a decadent globetrotting rock & roll party wherever they showed up. For the first time, the boys had captured the energy and chaos of their live performances with Divine Providence (Partisan Records) resulting in a great rock & roll record. But all great parties have to end, and once one is over the wrong side of the bump, it’s a new world that can get pretty bleak. Deer Tick are back with their fifth full length titled, Negativity. True to its name, Negativity explores themes of singer/guitarist John McCauley’s struggles dealing with drug abuse, a broken engagement, and his father’s incarceration. While the title is intended to be tongue in cheek, as it’s offset by the cover art of blue skies on a South County beach, there is no masking some of struggles within.

Negativity starts off with the hypnotic chant of “The Rock” before it kicks into blues-tinted soul jam complete with horns reminiscent of McCauley’s side project, Diamond Rugs. It probably doesn’t hurt as far the Diamond Rugs reference goes, that one of McCauley’s band mates, saxophonist Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), produced Negativity. “Just Friends” is a piano based number that has a classic 70s pop feel in the vein of Jackson Browne or a Warren Zevon. To further explain the record’s title, even guitarist Ian O’Neil’s one turn on the mic this time around is a Springsteen-esque rocker called “The Dream Is in The Ditch.” “Mr. Sticks” is another McCauley number that fuses 70s pop with a darker alt- country feel wrestling with his father’s federal imprisonment. Ironically a number called “Trash” breathes a light of wistful optimism as McCauley sings “don’t want the drink, dry out in style, waste all my ink, checking out past noon, bill me if you want, it is my disposition as a wasteful savant, where is all the romance that I used to know, I want to fall in love again with the open road.” Drummer Dennis Ryan takes a turn behind the mic on the lushly textured “Thyme” that McCauley says has nothing to do with the spice by the same name. “In Our Time” is a duet with Vanessa Carlton that has an endearing old time feel that McCauley wrote about his parents. “Hey Doll” is a piano driven number that has a70s Elton John feel with a chorus ripe for lounge styled sing-a-longs. “Pot of Gold” has an In Utero-era Nirvana fuzz crunch as the lyrics chronicle a descent into a drug-fueled doom. Negativity closes with “Big House” that comes across as Paul Westerberg ballad likely about McCauley’s father.

Negativity takes some getting used to, but overall I really dig it. On an initial listen, it at feels like the band tried to re-create something that harkened back to their debut, War Elephant, a favorite among Tick Heads. But upon repeated listens, Negativity comes across more as step forward for Deer Tick. They may not be peppered with as many Replacements comparisons this time around, but the songwriting exceeds that on Divine Providence in many areas. It may not be a party album, but it’s not a downer, woe-is-me record. Negativity finds Deer Tick at their rawest – dealing with the highs and lows of life and wrestling demons in song.

For The Love of Sloane – Curses, Spells, and Charms

It’s hard to believe that Curses, Spells, and Charms is For The Love of Sloane’s debut release because it seems like lifetimes ago when they were runner-ups in the WBRU Rock Hunt Finals and Champions of the WXIN Rock Hunt back in 2009. Life has a funny way of getting in the way, as they say. For The Love of Sloane are pretty much a modern band, which invites comparisons to other contemporary female fronted rock bands, like stranded somewhere along the highway between The Cranberries and Paramore. Singer Elese Morrone has her own style that I’ve always loved because there is an element of chaos in terms of how she employs the power of her pipes. Curses, Spells, and Charms lays out all the standards from the Sloane’s catalog like the uber infectious “Dig Deeper” that was their radio staple back in the day. I found cuts like brooding “Chances” and “Girl on Fire” to be just as rewarding listens. The latter almost has an alt-rock reggae feel in the verses before the blast off outro. “So What If..” is a tight rocker in the vein of a someone like Blink 182 with a good bridge to boot. The fuzz guitar wizardry of Stephen Moniz is an omnipresent pleasure to listen to throughout Curses, Spells, and Charms, but particularly on “Flora” and “Subtle Honesty (Dear John).” Check out For The Love of Sloane’s debut on iTunes or better yet, pick up a physical copy for yourself at their CD Release show at The Spot!

For The Love of Sloane celebrates the release of Curses, Spells, and Charms with a CD Release Party featuring The Nymphidels, VulGarrity, Satellites Fall, and Subject 2 Change at The Spot Underground on October 4.

Atlantic Thrills – A Day at The Beach 7 Inch (Almost Ready Records)

Local garage rocking kings, Atlantic Thrills, have released their debut as a 7-inch single featuring two infectious ditties. The A-side cut, “A Day at The Beach,” showcases the mix of surf, 60s garage, and harmonies that have long been the Atlantic Thrills’ calling card. The B-side, “Hold Your Tongue,” is a raucous garage stomper. Atlantic Thrills are planning a longer release of material from this session sometime in the near future.

Atlantic Thrills will be rocking the Life’s Gas show at The Parlour in Providence along with Castle (The Band) Pixels, Vudu Sister and Tyler James Kelly (of The Silks) on October 6.

Big Shows:

The Met Cafe’s 3rd Anniversary featuring March Fourth Marching Band and The Mallet Brothers

The Met Café is celebrating its third anniversary at its current location in the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket. For anyone who has yet to make it there, The Met Café is one of the best places to see a show that I’ve ever been. To top it all off, The Met is throwing a party with some great bands like March Fourth Marching Band, The Mallett Brothers from Maine, and locals Smith & Weeden to ring in the anniversary in style!

March Fourth Marching Band, The Mallett Brothers, and Smith & Weeden rock The Met Café on October 3.

The Lyres

The Lyres are Boston garage rock legends that trace their roots back to the 70s. The Lyres are best known for tunes like “Don’t Give It Up Now,” “Help You Ann,” and She Pays The Rent.” In an ever changing world, one of the few things that doesn’t change is that The Lyres will continue to come at you with organ tinged classic 60s garage rock.

The Lyres play The Met Café on October 5.

They Might Be Giants

New York City’s original Kings of Nerd Swing, , return to Lupo’s for what has been becoming a pretty regular engagement the past few years. They Might Be Giants are one of those cult bands that some people love and some detest – so this is getting listed for all the lovers out there. They still do “” and “” live for the casual fans but the rest of the material is a broad mix, encompassing their whole career.

They Might Be Giants return to Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on October 10.

The English Beat

The English Beat returns to bring their fusion of rock, ska and new wave to Manchester 65. Best known for their 80s hits like “Mirror in The Bathroom,” “Hands Off. She’s Mine,” and “Save It For Later,” The English Beat are still money for a good time on the dance floor live.

The English Beat will be at Manchester 65 on October 24.

Eve 6

Eve 6 ruled the modern rock charts in the late 90s/early 2000s with hits like “Inside Out,” “Leech,” and “Here’s to The Night.” After an extended hiatus, Eve 6 is with all original members and has released a comeback record in Speak in Codes that has the band, once again, making waves on the radio. Don’t miss a rare chance to catch Eve 6 locally at the Manchester 65!

Eve 6 will be at Manchester 65 in West Warwick on October 26.

Email music news to [email protected].

Roots Report: Graham Nash Review and Music From the World

Okee dokee folks … I can’t believe that I have been writing this column for nine years now. OK, not this very column, though sometimes it seems like it takes me that long to finish it and get it in. I am never on time! Anyway, in the past nine years we have changed the paper’s format-several times, changed logos a few times and even changed owners, but we have always stuck with our main mission of letting you know about the great stuff in and around Rhode Island! Read on …

Graham Nash Still Has It!

Last week I went to see Graham Nash at the Park Theatre in Cranston. My band mate, Dan Lilley, joined me for the show. We are still talking about it! Graham played a two hour, two set show that included hits from the Hollies, CSN(Y) and his past and current solo releases such as “Wild Tales,” “Our House,” “Cathedral,” “Just a Song Before I Go,” and “Teach Your Children.” He also performed the Beatles’ “Blackbird” as well as Neil Young’s “Ohio.” The songs were presented simply by Nash and two back-up musicians. His voice was in fine form and he didn’t miss a note. At 71 years old, Nash still has it, unlike his sometimes band mates, David Crosby and Steven Stills, who are visibly past the time that they should retire. Graham was quite chatty between songs and spoke of times with CSNY, his life, politics and even referenced his ex-girlfriend, Joni Mitchell. The between song banter alone made the concert memorable!

The performance wasn’t quite sold out, but should have been. It’s not often you get to see a performer of Nash’s stature in such an intimate venue. The Park Theatre was a wonderful setting for this event. For some reason, this venue still hasn’t registered on many Rhode Islanders’ radar. It is a VERY comfortable venue – seriously, the seats are like recliners. It is also VERY easy to get to and (usually) parking isn’t an issue. There is plenty of free parking allowed in the lot behind the high school/town hall, which is right across the street. Unfortunately, that night there was an open house at the high school and the lots were pretty full.

There are many good shows coming up at the Park Theatre, Ani DiFranco being one of them. You really should give the Park a shot. Hopefully they keep up the good work! For more, parallel over to parktheatreri.com.

Josie Down Under Australia really seems to agree with Josie Crosby. The former south county resident and part of the local music scene headed down under four years ago. She met a physicist from Oz, fell in love and decided to join the Aussie when he returned home. Josie was a big part of the community (solo performer, member of the band, Signs Of Life, worked at PM Recording Studios and South County Music Exchange) and when she left, she left many folks missing her, myself included. Fortunately, we have the internet and keeping in touch is fairly easy via e-mail, Skype and the occasional phone call.

The reason that I say that “Australia must agree with her” is because I was floored by her newest CD, For The Win. From the first notes I liked it, and the more I heard, the more I liked it. All of the time she has been in Australia Josie has been playing music. It took her a while to fit in and meet people, but it is clear she has met the right musicians. These musicians make up her current band, The Lucky Numbers. She says, “I got invited to play at a benefit for a wonderful lady by a fellow I met here. We rehearsed with a band a few times and that is how I met some of the guys I play with now. Through them and playing open mics and solo gigs, I met the others.” I always enjoyed Josie’s music when she was here, but since her “expatriotation,” her music has grown and developed into something that is distinctly Josie. To make it easier for you all to grasp her sound, imagine a vocal blend of Sinead O’ Connor and Dolores O’Riordan (Cranberries) with the backing of a solid, clean rhythm section. Add to that a bluesy, rock sound with a touch of Texas swing, country, folk and a very slight reggae edge. Layer in some great harmonica, violin/fiddle, keys, banjo and mandolin and you have the ingredients that make For The Win such an enjoyable listen. All of the songs were written or co-written by Crosby. She says, “Some of them are older, like ’Waiting On The Rain,’ ‘Blood on my Door,’ ‘Are you Happy.’ ‘Blue Light’ was one I wrote about PM Recording (remember the blue lights in there?) Some of them are Australian songs and some American.” Josie’s favorite songs from the CD are “Rise” and “Take Me Down.” “Rise” is my favorite. I am a sucker for those inspirational type songs that have hand claps. When I told Josie that “Rise” was my favorite, she said, “I’m glad you like that song. It’s kind of for you. I wrote it after talking with you once when you were a bit down and I was sending you good vibes.” I blushed and thanked her. The song starts out with, “The road you travel is littered with lies. You have friends at your side. Instead of sorrow, let hope be your guide … and you will rise.”

There is another RI connection to that CD: my band mate in Forever Young, Pete Vendettuoli. I met Pete through Josie and that is how he wound up in FY. Pete contributed a mandolin part to one of the songs. I asked Pete how he did that. “She sent me an mp3 and I loaded it into my recorder. I recorded my part as a .wav file and sent it back to her over Skype.”

The CD cover art was illustrated by Josie’s mom, Judy Bajus-Davis, who lives in Ohio. The woman on the cover looks a lot like Josie though according to Crosby, “It wasn’t supposed to, but she is my Mom after all!” She added, “It’s quite amazing how much we used the internet on this project.” The CD was produced, mixed and mastered by Josie’s beau, Matt Slivkoff, the Aussie who brought her there. In addition to being a physicist, he is quite the musician. For now Josie and the Lucky Numbers will be touring around the Perth/Freemantle region of Western Australia with hopes of branching out much farther. Possibly to the States. She says, “That’s all part of my master plan!”

Until that dream can be realized, I asked her if she had anything to say to her friends and fans here in RI. “I’d like to tell everyone back home that little Rhody still has a big place in my heart and will always be a part of me and the music I make. I really look forward to getting back there someday and sharing my experiences and songs with my friends. I can’t wait till we all get to play together again!” In the meantime, you all should definitely give the disc a listen and/or buy it online. For more about Josie Crosby and the Lucky Numbers, take a spin over to theluckynumbers.com. Tracie Puts Out The Dream

A little (ok, a lot) closer to RI, we have a new CD from Tracie Potochnik. What can I say about Tracie? She looks like she is pure as the driven snow, innocent, proper and quiet, but turns a song about murder into a sing-a-long. “Jimmy took the money and put a bullet in that poor man’s head,” and she sings it with a smile! She can sometimes seem like she is overly inspired by the darker dealings of humanity, but then will come out with the comical “Chicken Salad” in which the refrain sometimes must be edited if there are children in the room.

Potochnik’s music is a combination of country and folk with finely tuned lyrics. Tracie writes the songs, sings, and plays guitar and mandolin. On the CD she is accompanied by steel guitar, keys, percussion and more, giving a full sound to the songs. She has great sense of humor and at live performances, often blurts out bizarre, hysterical passages between songs. At one show she told the audience that she had a “mandolinjury” – she cut her finger on her mandolin.

She is influenced by the old country that has class – George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton – not the bad, pop country of today. She also loves Cher, but we will just gloss over that part. Her new CD is called The Dream – inspired by a roller rink that she saw on one of her travels. The 12-song album gives you a well-rounded feel of Potochnik’s sound and style. The songs will make you laugh, think and maybe even cry. The CD artwork was beautifully created by her photographer/artist boyfriend, Matthew Clowney. “Originally hailing from Pittsburgh, Tracie Potochnik now makes her home in Providence. She brings three chords, the truth and occasionally a mandolin to her shows.“ Tracie will be celebrating the release of The Dream on Saturday night, October 12, at the Mediator Stage in Providence. The show starts at 7:30 pm. The same night, G.W. Mercure will celebrate the release his new album, Kitchen Hymns. Tracie and G.W. will each play a set (including some special guests!) and do a mini-set together as a duo. For more info about the show, skate your way to facebook.com/mediatorstage.

Songwriters In The Round Last month I was fortunate enough to perform at the RI Association’s Songwriters In The Round show at AS220. I love being part of these shows for many reasons. #1.) They are a LOT of fun to play. I had a blast joking with fellow songwriter Andrea LaFazia sitting next to me on stage! It’s a very loose format and the interplay between performers and audience can be hilarious. #2.) I get to meet and perform with artists who I may never have heard of before. In this case, I got the opportunity to hear a young songwriter, Erica Russo. I really liked her songs. #3.) And this is my favorite reason – I get to write a new song based on a theme that was chosen by the previous month’s audience. I have written some of my best songs when I have been forced to write about something that I may have never considered, and I have heard some of the best songs from other writers as well. There are more reasons, but it’s getting late and I am running out of room so I will get to it.

The next Songwriters In The Round show at AS220 will take place on Sunday, October 13 from 6 to 8 pm. It’s early, it’s only five bucks to get in, it’s very entertaining and fun. What more reasons do YOU need to go? Scheduled for the October show are Daniel and Faith Senie, Beth DeSombre, Chris LaVancher and the evening is rounded out by host, Joanne Lurgio. They each perform three to four originals plus one new song, based on the theme, “Truth Is.” This month’s audience gets to pick the theme for the next month. Go. Have fun. You know you want to! For more, compose your way to risongwriters.com.

Medieval Music Gets New Life

Over at Blackstone River Theatre, they will present an evening of medieval songs and poetry featuring the UK’s Mediaeval Baebes on Sunday, October 6 at 7 pm. The allure is undeniable. Six talented, attractive women who breathe new life into the texts of medieval songs and poetry, and their hauntingly beautiful music captures the imagination and devotion of a modern audience. They are the the UK’s number one selling classical vocal group, and in 19 years they have placed three albums into the top of the UK classical charts and performed before enthusiastic audiences in the UK, Canada, Europe and the US. Yet, their music defies any traditional classification and people of all ages, backgrounds and musical tastes have become fans of the Baebes. For more about the show, crusade your way to riverfolk.org.

Live Show Round-up

Finally, here are some random shows for you to fill the emptiness of your lives. The Norman Bird Sanctuary’s 39th Annual Harvest Fair happens on Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6, in Portsmouth. On Saturday, starting at 11 am, are Sibling Rivalry, The Smokey Barrel Band, Minor Swing, Otis Read, Castle and it winds up at 4 pm with The Rank Strangers. Sunday starts at 11 am with Jim McGrath, Allysen Callery, Mark Cutler’s Men of Great Courage, Keith McCurdy’s Vudu Sister, Natasha Harrison and Chuck Ciany, and it closes with the The Silks at 4 pm. Fly over to normanbirdsanctuary.org for more. Saturday, October 12, Susan Cowsill returns to RI to perform her solo material at Manchester 65 in West Warwick. Opening the show will be Lisa Couto and Ray Cooke and Kari Tieger. At Lily Pads in Peacedale, also on Saturday, October 12, their world music journey continues with Matuto. At The Space To Be, Studio 200, in the Shady Lea Mill, on Tuesday night, October 15, Montreal-born singer-songwriter, Chris Velan, who has drawn comparisons to Paul Simon for his West African influenced folk pop, and the multiple award winning songwriter/performer, Ria Mae, will fill the space with the sounds of their songs. They’ll make the Space To Be the space to really be! For info, send one of those electronic mails to [email protected]. The Beehive Queen, Christine Ohlman and The Montez Boys return to Chan’s in Woonsocket on Friday, October 18. Also at Chan’s on Saturday the 19, Ursula George plays pre-war Vaudeville-era jazz and blues. (www.chanseggrollsandjazz.com).

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading!

John Fuzek www.johnfuzek.com

Scene and Heard

Rhode Island films have national ties

Amidst the blue, blue skies, the deep amber sunlight, the long afternoon shadows, the … WAIT!

Ok Rhode Island — I’m baaaaccck! But, I’ll really be back in the middle of this month. I’ve missed you dearly. I’ve been so busy with my own film projects – a crazy mockumentary by the brilliant Raz Cunningham, which merits its own write-up soon, and I’m wrapping a web series with that always- producing Seth Chitwood – whew! It feels good to take a break and chat up some film news. This is just a teaser (aw, you know me). There’s in-depth info on this stuff below, and more to follow. Always.

As I was waxing poetic above – the air is cool and crisp, rife with the smell of burning leaves. Okay, enough of that. I want to go jump in a pile of leaves – preferably NOT burning – right now. The low fires and embers of some very hard work have blazed into a roaring bonfire for some of our local filmmakers in Rhode Island.

Almost Human

The film Almost Human, a horror flick written by former Coventry residents Joe Begos and Josh Ethier and produced by Anthony Ambrosino and Nick Delmenico, has come full circle. The film was picked up by IFC at the Toronto Film Festival. I knew when I first saw the trailer in June 2012 that the film was a cut above and would go places. I’ve been pushing it ever since and knew that it would play a part in putting Little Rhody firmly into the indie film world. It’s a very impressive piece of work, and we’ll let you know when you can catch the film on IFC in the near future.

Breakfast with Curtis

Laura Colella, one of those walk softly, but carry a big stick individuals, has written and produced a film called Breakfast with Curtis. Laura is a Sundance Lab alum, filmmaker and a RISD film studies professor currently on sabbatical. She’s also pursuing a master’s at Brown. Breakfast with Curtis was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, won a distribution grant from Jameson at the Spirit Awards, and was presented by none other than Paul Thomas Anderson for a screening/Q&A in LA. (Yep, the same PTA who wrote and directed There Will Be Blood, The Master, Magnolia, and Boogie Nights.) Laura’s film will be screened starting November 22, 2013, at the Cable Car Cinema in Providence, RI. But more on that later, as we have an interview with Laura that you won’t want to miss.

Right Where?

Nathan Suher and his company IM Filmworks is proud to announce that its most recent film, Right There, is complete. Its premiere on Friday, October 18, 2013, at 8 pm will be screened at Speed of Thought Playhouse Café (39 North Washington St., North Attleboro, MA).

Right There is a romantic comedy about a simple man’s persistent attempts over the course of 30 days to gain the attention of a beautiful woman eating lunch on a park bench. “This isn’t your average romantic comedy,” says Nathan Suher, director. That’s because Right There is a silent film. Nathan says that this film was heavily influenced by early-era filmmaking. “I’ve always been a gigantic fan of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Our film’s goal was to recapture this golden era of cinema.”

Right There was filmed last May, primarily in downtown North Attleboro, as well as in Mansfield and Rehoboth. Says director Nathan Suher, “Filming in my hometown was a huge benefit, as many local vendors and residents supported our film in a multitude of ways.”

Suher hopes the premiere will launch a successful festival run. Right There has recently been submitted to the Sundance Film Festival, and there are immediate plans to submit it to several other festivals this fall.

For more information on IM Filmworks, their movie Right There and Nathan Suher, visit https://www.facebook.com/imfilmworks

Live to Save?

Fatally ill, Garvey thinks he figured out how to die. But when his beloved wife Evelyn goes missing, he must live to save her. This is the synopsis of Bereave from former RI’ers Evangelos and George Giovanis, brothers who are putting together this film starring Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, The Artist), Neve Campbell (Scream, Wild Things) and JJ Field (Captain America, Centurion). They launched an Indiegogo campaign a couple months ago and in 48 days managed to raise about $26,000. They launched on Kickstarter as well with even more success. In less than 48 hours they managed to raise more than $21,000. These guys have a quite the history. Evangelos and George Giovanis self financed all of their films by building, working in and then selling small restaurants. Needless to say, they almost bankrupted the family (sorry mom and dad!) in pursuing their dream. Much more on these resourceful brothers and their past films, and an interview to come!

Creepy Stuff

Self Storage, by Tommy DeNucci and the Woodhaven Production Company, is a locally shot feature film that will be available through Redbox, Netflix, Walmart, Target, Amazon and Video on Demand. That’s major international distribution for them, and kudos for making it happen in RI! Stay tuned for a more in-depth story on Tommy D., Verdi Films, and their next film in pre-production right now called Bleed for This – the story of the comeback of none other than boxer Vinny Pazienza.

More creepy stuff! Normal, is a flick about that not-so-normal guy, Jim (Michael Reed), a lonely, troubled guy who works as an apartment superintendent and replays his tortured past. Through a series of flashbacks and interactions with the mysterious tenants who surrounds him, we not only learn of his dark secrets, but also what it means to be normal. The answers he finds in his journey will shatter not only his perceptions of the past, but also his fragile grip on reality. Directed by Richard Marr Griffin and written by Lenny Schwartz, the film will make its debut in January. Can’t wait for that one! In addition to Michael Reed, it stars a host of others from right here in RI. We’ll send you a reminder before the film premieres – right around Halloween to scare you a little. Marr-Griffin is currently in production on his film Future Justice, which will premiere sometime in 2014.

I hope you enjoyed this teaser of what’s to come. And don’t forget to look for us soon on “Take Two,” Motif‘s own film review show. We’ve been busy, Nick and I – he with his own show called Nick’s Sci-Fi Corner – but we will return soon for a new episode, with a new spin on things, and some interesting people.

Remember: film is rolling. Especially in RI.

Mike D’s Top Five Can’t Miss Shows of October

# 1 Friday, October 11: Bonnie Prince Billy. $20. 8 pm doors / 9 pm show. All ages. Columbus Theatre, Providence, RI. It’s been 11 or so years and 12 releases since Bonnie Prince Billy (aka Will Oldham) performed in Providence. The best part of the Will Oldham collection is it collectively is so all over the place there is an album for every car riding occasion. When in a bad mood with the collective people around me, “Another Day Of Dread” or “Death To Everyone” from the album I See A Darkness does just fine. His more recent efforts, such as Wolfroy Goes To Town, aren’t nearly as morose, but instead more like Americana Books on Tape tales of everyday rural life, love, loss, and are perfect for long car rides. It’s an evening with, which means just Bonnie Prince Billy all night. Looking forward to it.

#2 Friday, October 18: Coheed and Cambria, Balance And Composure, I The Mighty. $26.50 advance / $30 day of. 7 pm doors / 8 pm show. All ages. Lupo’s, 79 Washington St., Providence, RI. For me, this show is all about Balance And Composure. I have been following them pretty much only through live performances and have always been impressed. At first, it seemed that they were channeling their inner Jawbreaker, and for a young band that age, killing it. Fast forward a few years and they shed their pop punk shreds for channeling their inner Nirvana, reminiscent of Cave In circa Jupiter. Great songs – powerful guitar melodies always win me over live. Their second album Things We Think We Were Missing is out now and shows a ton of promise and confidence, and hopefully many great things to come.

#3 Saturday, October 20: Man Man, Xenia Rubinos. $17.50 advance. 8 pm. 18+ only. Paradise, Boston, MA. Man Man remind me of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem but on acid (more acid?). I think that the best bands sometimes are the bands you recommend to see live, but not buy any of their albums. Man Man is one of them. I do love their songs, but something about the live performances really makes them pop. Check out their new ballad single “Head On (Hold On To your Heart),” which sounds like an outtake from singer Honus Honus’ side project, Mister Heavenly. Mister Heavenly’s self titled album is a masterpiece and should be in your record collection, just sayin’.

#4 Tuesday, October 22: “The Bright Futures Tour” with Fitz & The Tantrums, Capital Cities, Beat Club. $20 advance / $25 day of. 6:30 pm doors / 7:30 pm show. All ages. Lupo’s, 79 Washington St., Providence, RI. This is an interesting co-headlining bill of 2013’s break out alt rock bands. Fitz & The Tantrums’ very sold out April show at The Met was a standout performance of the year for me. Having never seen them before, I didn’t quite know what to expect. A big band performance blending rock & roll and R&B flawlessly, in the way that The Afghan Whigs or even The Rolling Stones do without it seeming corny or forced. From seeing photos and artwork, it certainly wasn’t what I expected. Quite a dance party. Co-headliner, Capital Cities, bring with them what will likely be the number one alt rock single of 2013, “Safe And Sound,” a song I can’t seem to escape lately and don’t mind.

#5 Wednesday, October 23: FIDLAR, The Orwells. $13 advance / $15 day of. 8 pm. All ages. The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA. When I was young, punk, to me, was a way out of normal boring life in Cumberland. Angry Samoans and Descendants cassettes about fucking up and smashing stuff were great soundtracks to smashing shopping carriages at Ann and Hope, nothing glamorous, and a whole lot of stupid behavior. At 33, new punkish bands are a tough sell as I am not seeking oblivion, a distraction or way out. But the adolescent noise that FIDLAR makes still resonates with me like Wavves and before that Jay Reatard could. With songs like “Chinese Weed,” “Cheep Beer” and “The Punks Are Finally Taking Acid,” the cheap thrills aren’t going last, but are a fun listen. Check out the very, very not suitable for work video for “Cocaine,” starring Nick Offerman. Don’t, however, take up the “buy Cocaine on iTunes” offer. Opening act is The Orwells. I am not super familiar with them, but their “Mallrats (LaLaLa)” track gets stuck in my head for days every time I hear it. Either they could be a great Crypt Records meet garage pop band, or they could be Jet and I have a totally bad read from one song. Only one way to find out?